Casti, Giambattista (1724-1803)

Italian poet. His chief works are Novelle galanti 1793, a collection of tales in ottava rima, the plots of which are taken chiefly from the writers La Fontaine and Boccaccio, and Gli animali parlanti/The Talking Animals (1802), an elaborate poetical allegory.

Casti was born in Prato, Tuscany. He was ordained a priest, but later gave up his hope of advancement in the church in order to travel. In the service of the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, he visited most of the European capitals, and on his return Joseph appointed him poet laureate. He later resigned this position to avoid political strife, settled in Paris, and remained there until his death.